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Best wireless earbuds: the best Bluetooth earbuds and earphones in 2020

Our pick of the best wireless earbuds

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The best wireless earbuds of 2020 are impressive. They combine comfort with great audio performance and many models give some of the best wired earbuds a run for their money. 

There are lots of reasons you might want to grab a pair of the best wireless earbuds. They’re great for the gym, commuting or relaxing outside on a sunny day. The best Bluetooth earbuds are designed to stay put and to bring you good quality sound – that often won’t break the bank. 

This guide will take a look at the two different kinds of wireless earbuds on the market today; true wireless earbuds and neckbud-style wireless earbuds. The latter have no cables whatsoever, while regular wireless earbuds retain a single cable that connects each earbud – usually worn around the neck.

But with such a huge amount of choice, it can be difficult to find the best wireless earbuds for you. That's why this guide includes the best wireless earbuds for every budget, every situation, and in every form factor. First up – true wireless earbuds.

True wireless earbuds

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1. Sony WF-1000XM3 True Wireless Earbuds

Noise-cancelling true wireless headphones that made our dreams come true

Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: 70g | Frequency response: 20-20,000Hz | Drivers: 6mm | Driver type: Dome Type | Sensitivity: N/A | Impedance: N/A | Battery life (on-board): 6 hours | Battery life (charging case): 18 hours | Wireless range: 30ft | NFC: Yes

+ Efficient noise-cancellation
+ Inconspicuous looks
+ Great fun to listen too
- Not suitable for sports

Considering it's still rare to get noise-cancellation in wired earbuds at all, the fact that Sony has managed to pack it into a pair that are not only wireless, but true wireless is very impressive indeed. 

The Sony WF-1000X manage to offer a level of noise-cancellation that's very good for a pair of earbuds – it won't offer the same isolation as a pair of over-ear cans, but if you're after a sleek form factor then the compromise is well worth it. 

There may be a few minor problems with these wireless earbuds, but we think Sony has knocked the ball out of the park with the WF-1000XM3; not only are these hands down the best-looking True Wireless headphones out there, but they combine serious noise cancelling tech with fist-pumping musicality. 

Read the full review: Sony WF-1000XM3 review

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2. Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2

Great-sounding and noise-cancelling

Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: 6g | Frequency response: 5 - 21,000Hz | Drivers: 7mm | Driver type: Dynamic | Sensitivity: N/A | Impedance: N/A | Battery life (on-board): 7 hours | Battery life (charging case): 28 hours | Wireless range: 30ft | NFC: Yes

+ Incredible sound
+ Sleek design
+ Support for Hi-Res Audio
- More expensive than rivals

Sennheiser has pretty much knocked it out of the park with these buds, offering great noise cancellation alongside smart looks and stunning sound. 

The sound quality, battery life, and design of the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 are truly brilliant – and they're a really good alternative to the Sony WF-1000XM3, particularly if you prefer a more flashy design to adorn your ears.

We did find that those with smaller ears sometimes find them a little uncomfortable, however, and their high price just stops them from beating the Sony WF-1000XM3.

Read more: Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 review

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3. Cambridge Audio Melomania 1

Mind-blowing sound without the wires

Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: 9.2g | Frequency response: 20-20,000Hz | Drivers: 5.8mm | Driver type: Dome Type | Sensitivity: 9.8dB | Impedance: N/A | Battery life (on-board): 9 hours | Battery life (charging case): 36 hours | Wireless range: N/A | NFC: Yes

+ Outstanding audio quality
+ Good value for money
+ Comfortable design
- Control buttons can be annoying to use

Cambridge Audio is known for its high-end audio equipment, but until now, hasn’t ventured into the world of true wireless earbuds. Enter the Cambridge Audio Melomania 1s: with an outstanding 45 hours of battery life, they combine the brand’s award-winning engineering with the convenience of truly wireless listening. 

For a pair of true wireless earbuds, the sound quality offered by the Cambridge Audio Melomania 1s is sensational. In fact, it rivals some of the best over-ear headphones, which is all but unheard of for buds of this size. 

They may not have the noise cancelation technology offered by the Sony WF-1000XM3 Wireless Earbuds, but they are $100 (around £80) cheaper – and have a superior battery life. 

They certainly outperform the Apple AirPods, in all respects apart from the lack of wireless charging case. This is a small price to pay for that exceptional audio quality, though, and we think they represent much better value for money, too.

Read the full review: Cambridge Audio Melomania  1 review

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4. Lypertek Tevi

Incredible, affordable buds

Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: N/A | Frequency response: 20-20,000Hz | Drivers: 6mm | Driver type: Graphene | Sensitivity: N/A | Impedance: N/A | Battery life (on-board): 10 hours | Battery life (charging case): 70 hours | Wireless range: N/A | NFC: No

+ Incredible value
+ Neutral audiophile-like sound
+ Great battery life
- Design is a bit plain

You may not have heard of up-and-coming audio brand Lypertek yet, but expect to hear a lot from it soon – its Lypertek Tevi true wireless earbuds are among the best we’ve tried, especially given the low price tag.

With USB-C charging, a well-balanced sound, lengthy battery life, and waterproofing, it ticks every box you could ask for, from what are basically a pair of budget buds. The Lypertek Tevi, surprisingly, might just blow you away, punching well above their weight and rivaling buds from some of the biggest audio brands on the planet. 

Consider us pleasantly surprised.

Read the full review: Lypertek Tevi true wireless earbuds review

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5. Klipsch T5 True Wireless

Audiophiles will love the Klipsch T5’s sound and build quality

Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: N/A | Frequency response: 20-20,000Hz | Drivers: N/A | Driver type: N/A | Sensitivity: N/A | Impedance: N/A | Battery life (on-board): 8 hours | Battery life (charging case): 24 hours | Wireless range: N/A | NFC: No

+ Incredible build quality
+ Warm, detailed sound
+ Excellent battery life
- Deep fit may be uncomfortable

With their stellar sound and build quality, long-lasting battery life and what may be one of the coolest cases we've ever seen, we'd argue that the Klipsch T5s are of the best models on the market right now..

Of course, you're buying a Klipsch product because it features the signature Klipsch sound, which is warm, detailed, and never harsh. Acoustic music is lush and detailed, and the detail extends to the highs as well, allowing the headphones to sing in the higher registers without ever being sibilant. 

Battery life is rated at 8 hours per charge with the case giving an additional 24 hours – that means these true wireless in-ear headphones will last you for a long haul flight, no problem. 

Read the full review: Klipsch T5 True Wireless review 

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6. Apple AirPods Pro

The perfect earbuds... for Apple fans

Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: 5.4g | Frequency response: 20-20,000Hz | Drivers: N/A | Driver type: Dynamic | Sensitivity: N/A | Impedance: N/A | Battery life (on-board): Up to 5 hours | Battery life (charging case): 24 hours | Wireless range: N/A | NFC: Yes

+ Good noise cancellation
+ Better fit than AirPods (2019)
+ Good for tracking hearing health
- More expensive than better rivals

Apple has launched its new true wireless earbuds, bringing active noise cancellation, a (finally) much better fit, and an improved design, in a bid to lure more iPhone users into the true wireless fold.

However, at $249 / £249 / AU$399, they’re pretty pricey too, and as such can’t be called the very best wireless headphones out there.

That said, if you’re an iPhone user looking for some well-fitting earbuds with strong sound quality, you could do a lot worse than the new AirPods - the redesign means they’re far less likely to fall out, and the additional microphones provide strong noise-canceling (particularly when commuting), as well as a useful Transparency mode, which really does let the outside world in.

The sound quality of the AirPods Pro has certainly improved since the previous iteration – there’s a notable emphasis on vocals and bass, meaning these earbuds are better for pop fans than those that enjoy a more natural presentation that lends itself to classical music or more orchestral sounds.

Read the full review: Apple AirPods Pro review

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7. Jabra Elite 75t

A worthy successor to the Elite 65t

Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: 5.5g | Frequency response: 20-20,000 Hz | Drivers: 6mm | Driver type: N/A | Sensitivity: N/A | Impedance: N/A | Battery life (on-board): 7.5 hours | Battery life (charging case): 20 hours | Wireless range: 33ft | NFC: No

+ 7 hours on a single charge
+ Compact earbuds and case
+ App lets you customize EQ
- Overwhelming, muddy bass

The Jabra Elite 75t improve upon their predecessors, the Jabra Elite 65t, in just about every way – except for tonal balance. 

The headphones and charging case are much smaller, battery life makes an immense jump, catching up to the competition, and the customization features we enjoyed in the 65t remain. 

While they don't have the best sound quality and they lacks active noise cancellation, neither stops the Jabre Elite 75t from being a solid pair of true wireless headphones to use, especially if you make frequent calls with your your headphones on. I

Read the full review: Jabra Elite 75t review

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8. Beats PowerBeats Pro

Impressive-fitting workout ‘buds from Beats

Acoustic design: closed | Weight: N/A | Frequency response: 20Hz - 20kHz | Drivers: N/A | Driver type: N/A | Sensitivity: N/A | Impedance: N/A | Battery life: 25 hours (with case) | wireless range: N/A | NFC: N/A

+ Easy pairing with iOS 
+ Immaculate fit 
+ Enjoyable sound 
- Case is fairly bulky 

The new PowerBeats Pro true wireless Beats headphones aren't exactly the earbuds analysts have been predicting, sure, but they are something special – they’re supremely comfortable, sound decent and seem to never, ever fall out. 

That said, they are – in our opinion – Apple’s best true wireless earbuds to date thanks to small additions like the pressure-reducing micro-laser barometric venting hole, their longer battery life and their superior sound quality. If we had to choose between wearing these and the AirPods around the house or office, these are what we’d wear.   

Read the full review: Beats PowerBeats Pro review

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9. SoundMAGIC TWS50

Fantastic sound, fantastic price

Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: 4g | Frequency response: 20-20,000Hz | Drivers: 6mm | Driver type: Dynamic, neodymium | Sensitivity: 107 dB | Impedance: 20 ohms | Battery life (on-board): 7 hours | Battery life (charging case): 23 hours | Wireless range: 10m / 33ft | NFC: No

+ Light, compact, comfortable design
+ Open, detailed sound
+ Decent battery life
- Slightly inhibited dynamics

With the TWS50, SoundMAGIC has hit the price/performance sweet-spot, thanks to these true wireless earbuds' fantastic price, comfortable design, great sound, and support for Bluetooth 5.0.

They offer a wide, spacious soundstage, with a good, well balanced presentation, alongside a decent battery life and comfy fit – in short, if you're looking for some cheap AirPod-alternatives, the SoundMAGIC TWS50 are well worth a look. 

Read more: SoundMAGIC TWS50 true wireless in-ear headphones review

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10. B&O Beoplay E8 2.0 Wireless Earphones

Pricey wireless earbuds that sound absolutely wonderful

Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: 13g (combined) | Frequency response: 20-20,000Hz | Drivers: 5.7mm | Driver type: Electro-dynamic | Sensitivity: N/A | Impedance: N/A | Battery life (on-board): 4 hours | Battery life (charging case): 8 hours | Wireless range: 100ft | NFC: Yes

+ Good audio quality 
+ Exceptional design 
+ Easy to setup 
- Can feel a bit snug 

Let’s get one thing out of the way – the B&O Beoplay E8 are some of the best-looking and most expensive wireless earphones you can buy at $350 / £300 (around AU$570).

Audio quality is undeniably excellent, and you can tweak the sound to your liking using the accompanying Beoplay app on Android and iOS.

Even without tinkering around with ToneTouch, the E8 2.0s sounds crisp and clear, with punchy bass frequencies. So, the Bang & Olufsen E8 2.0 truly wireless earphones look great and sound great, although the touch-sensitive buttons are a little too sensitive at times, and there's no active noise cancellation. 

However, it's hard to not find these earphones appealing, and if you want your true wireless earbuds to look as good as they sound, they could be the perfect model for you.

Read more: B&O Beoplay E8 2.0 Wireless Earphones review

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11. Audio-Technica ATH-CKS5TW

Big on bass, big on battery life

Acoustic design: closed | Weight: 8g | Frequency response: 5Hz - 40kHz | Drivers: 10mm | Driver type: Dynamic | Sensitivity: 110 dB | Impedance: 16 ohms | Battery life: 45 hours (with case) | wireless range: N/A | NFC: N/A

+ Sound great
+ Long battery life
- Weighty
- Fiddly case

With a promising battery life and well-managed bass enhancement over Audio-Technica’s usual neutral sound, the Audio-Technica ATH-CKS5TW true wireless earbuds have a lot going for them. 

They've one of the most complete and well-rounded sound profiles we've seen from true-wireless earbuds, and that's despite the claimed bass enhancement. It's a very enjoyable sound that they make.

However, they are let down a bit by their fit – mileage will vary of course depending on your preferred bud style and the size of your ears, but all will find the fiddly case fit will annoy over time. Still, the quality audio here may be a worthy trade-off.

Read more: Audio-Technica ATH-CKS5TW review

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12. Sony WF-SP800N

Spatial audio and noise-cancelling smarts

Acoustic design: closed | Weight: 9.3g | Frequency response: N/A | Drivers: N/A | Driver type: Dynamic | Sensitivity: N/A | Impedance: N/A | Battery life: 18 hours (with case) | wireless range: N/A | NFC: N/A

+ Basic noise cancellation
+ Water-resistant and sweatproof
+ Support for 360 Reality Audio
- Tight in the ear

Sony's latest true wireless earbuds, the Sony WF-SP800N, are a triple-threat. They’re IP55-rated to be sweatproof and dustproof with a high degree of water resistance, but they’re also pretty good for commuters because they have active noise cancellation built in – which is rare for a workout pair of earbuds – and work well for demanding music lovers thanks to their support for Sony’s new spatial audio format, 360 Reality Audio.

They can be a little uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time, however, and the bass is bit muddy for our liking – still, these true wireless earbuds are well worth a look.

Read more: Sony WF-SP800N review

Wireless earbuds

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1. Optoma NuForce BE Sport4

Practically flawless wireless earbuds

Acoustic design: closed | Weight: 15 gram | Frequency response: 20 Hz - 20 kHz | Drivers: 6 mm | Driver type: dynamic | Sensitivity: 92 dB +/-3 dB at 1 kHz | Impedance: 32 Ohm | Battery life: 10 hours | wireless range: 10 m (33ft) | NFC: No

+ Impressive audio 
+ Customized eartips  
+ Practical design 
- Not suited to one-ear listening 

The NuForce BE Sport4 wireless earbuds are that rare find: wireless earbuds that are good for basically all situations, whether you're looking to take them out on a run or just wear them around town. 

They're ideal for exercise, although any urbanite will also find their lightweight functionality and impressive sound isolation highly appealing. If you want proof that Bluetooth earbuds can now compete with the best of them, look no further.

Read the full review: Optoma NuForce BE Sport4 review

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2. Bowers & Wilkins PI3 Wireless Headphones

Neckbuds with phenomenal sound

Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: 31g | Frequency response: 10Hz - 30kHz | Drivers: 9.2mm | Driver type: N/A | Sensitivity: 96 dB | Impedance: N/A | Battery life: 8 hours | NFC: No

+ Comfortable design
+ Excellent sound quality
- No waterproofing
- Average battery life

The Bowers & Wilkins PI3 are the first neckband wireless earbuds for the company, and they're a great start. Well-designed, comfy, and simple to use, they sound really good, too.

Thanks to dual drivers, these buds sound fantastic, with crisp highs, lively mids, and plenty of powerful bass. Look past the fairly unremarkable battery life and limited features, and you'll be mostly very impressed by what these offer.

Read the full review: Bowers & Wilkins PI3 Wireless Headphones review

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3. Sennheiser CX Sport wireless earphones

No fuss buds with fantastic audio

Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: 15g | Frequency response: 17Hz - 21kHz | Drivers: N/A | Driver type: Dynamic | Sensitivity: 112 dB | Impedance: 28 Ohm | Battery life: 6 hours | wireless range: 50 m (150ft) | NFC: No

+ Fantastic audio quality
+ Sports-friendly design
- Not the cheapest option
- Mids could be richer

If the most important aspect of wireless earphones for you is the audio quality, these wireless earbuds from Sennheiser could be a fantastic choice. 

With a lively, bass-heavy presentation, and a comfortable fit, the Sennheiser CX Sport Bluetooth earbuds can really bolster your workout through sound quality alone. 

They have a battery life of six hours, which means they'll last you all day, whether you're wearing them on your commute or taking them out for a jog.

Read the full review: Sennheiser CX Sport Wireless earphones review

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4. OnePlus Bullets Wireless 2

Amazing wireless earphones for the price

Acoustic design: closed | Weight: 13 gram | Frequency response: 20 Hz - 20 kHz | Drivers: 6 mm | Driver type: dynamic | Sensitivity: 96 dB +/-3 dB at 1 kHz | Impedance: 16 Ohms | Battery life: 8 hours | wireless range: N/A | NFC: No

+ Magnetic on/off switch  
+ Lively sound
+ Strong wireless connection 
- Terrible carrying case 

OnePlus is most known for its “flagship killer” phones like the OnePlus 7 and OnePlus 7 Pro,, but the company also makes headphones – the best example of which are the company’s excellent Bullets Wireless 2, which offer an incredible value in the neck-bud headphone category. 

In terms of audio quality, they boast a lively sonic presentation and an accurate-feeling soundstage, although bass-heads may want to look elsewhere for headphones that pack a bassier punch. 

They're comfortable to wear too, but it's just a shame that they don't have a waterproof rating and the inline remote is so fiddly, because otherwise they could make a decent pair of running headphones

They may be $30 more expensive than their predecessors, but the improved battery life and sound quality makes up for that; it also makes it worth upgrading if you have the originals and are due a new pair of wireless earbuds. 

Read the full review: OnePlus Bullets Wireless 2 review

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5. SoundMAGIC E11BT

Magic bullets that sound deceptively good

Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: 24.7g | Cable length: N/A | Frequency response: 20 - 20,000Hz | Drivers: 10mm | Driver type: Dynamic, Neodymium | Sensitivity: 100dB | Impedance: 42 ohms | Battery life: 20 hours | Wireless range: 13m | NFC: No

+ Fantastic price
+ Elegant design
+ Comfortable
- Treble tones can sound harsh

The SoundMagic E11BTs are an extremely capable pair of wireless in-ear earphones, and given their low price, it really is difficult to fault them – the audio quality is fantastic and they look very elegant. 

They're comfortable to wear thanks to ergonomically designed eartips and a flat neckband that won’t irritate you while running or working out – and with an IPX4 rating, they should withstand sweaty sessions. 

Read the full review: SoundMAGIC E11BT 

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6. Jaybird Tarah Pro

Well-crafted wireless earbuds for endurance athletes

Acoustic design: closed | Weight: 18 grams | Frequency response: 20 Hz - 20 kHz | Drivers: 6 mm | Driver type: dynamic | Sensitivity: 95 dB +/-3 dB at 1 kHz | Impedance: 16 Ohms | Battery life: 8 hours | wireless range: N/A | NFC: No

+  Excellent adaptable sound   
+ Durable and compact design 
- Proprietary charging dock  
- Fiddly eartips 

The Jaybird Tarah Pro headphones are wireless sport headphones for the endurance runners, athletes and fitness nuts out there. With a neck cable to keep the earbuds together, they aren’t quite ‘true wireless’, but will be practical for those concerned about dropping and losing a costly earbud in the heat of a race or training session.

As the first in Jaybird’s new ‘Pro’ range of Bluetooth earbuds and aimed at offering higher quality audio and materials, the Tarah Pro will suit anyone not willing to sacrifice audio quality in harsher outdoor conditions or indoor workouts and who don't mind spending a bit more to get a premium product.  

Read the full review: Jaybird Tarah Pro review

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7. Jaybird X4 Wireless Bluetooth Headphones

Compact comfort, good quality, competitive price

Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: 14.7g | Frequency response: 20 Hz - 20 kHz | Drivers: 6 mm | Driver type: N/A | Sensitivity: 99 dB +/-3 dB at 1 kHz | Impedance: 16 Ohms | Battery life: 8 hours | Wireless range: 10m / 33ft | NFC: No

+ Excellent adaptable sound
+ Durable and compact design
- Proprietary charging dock
- Button lag

Now committed to a yearly refresh of the popular mid-range model, the Jaybird X4 manage to outdo both the previous Jaybird X2 and Jaybird X3 wireless Bluetooth earphones, with an upgraded IPX7 water-resistance rating. Whether you're sweating buckets or running doggedly through the rain, the X4 will be able to cope with it.

The Jaybird X4s also manage to keep the series' surprisingly good sound. These earphones are certainly fitness first, but that doesn't mean the other things people look for in a pair of earphones – you know, like music – have fallen by the wayside.

Jaybird's excellent app also provides easy EQ customization as well as the ability to make your own sound profile, with various ear tip sizes to boot. A great all round choice for runner who don't want to skimp on sound – or be wary of the weather.

Alternatively if you're after an even more premium experience, the Jaybird Tarah Pro earbuds offer higher-quality audio and materials for a somewhat higher $159 £139 / AU$229 price tag.

Although we're still big fans of the Jaybird X4 headphones, take a look at the Jaybird Vista true headphones further down the list – they're our top pick if you're in the market for a pair of true wireless earbuds. 

Read the full review: Jaybird X4 review

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8. Beats X

Good-sounding wireless earbuds that can charge in five minutes

Acoustic design: closed | Weight: N/A | Frequency response: N/A | Drivers: N/A | Driver type: N/A | Sensitivity: N/A | Impedance: N/A | Battery life: 8 hours | wireless range: N/A | NFC: No

+  Balanced sound signature  
+ Quick Charge feature 
-  Relatively expensive  
- Lacking in clarity 

Beats haven't always gotten the best rap when it comes to audio performance, but the Beats X is trying to set the record straight. The Beats X hence make up for their slightly bassy, confined sound with a rock solid connection and a pairing process that, on iOS devices at least, is as painless as it's possible to be. 

If you’re shopping for a no-fuss pair of Bluetooth earbuds that charge in 5 minutes, work well with iOS and don’t mind spending a little extra money on them, the Beats X are for you.

Read the full review: Beats X review

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9. Bose QuietControl 30

In-ear noise-cancelling as good as any from over-ear cans

Acoustic design: closed | Weight: 28 grams | Frequency response: N/A | Drivers: N/A | Driver type: N/A | Sensitivity: N/A | Impedance: N/A | Battery life: 10 hours | wireless range: 10m (33ft) | NFC: No

+ Stellar noise cancellation  
+ Long-lasting battery 
- Very, very expensive
- Sound isn’t great for its price 

Life is full of compromises, and it's no different with the Bose QuietControl 30. On the positive side you get a level of noise cancellation that comes close to what's offered by the brand's over-ear headphones, but the concession here is on sound fidelity, which just isn’t on the same level as that of other wireless earbuds we've tested.

There's also that neckband which adds an unfortunate level of bulk to what should otherwise be a slimline pair of headphones. 

Read the full review: Bose QuietControl 30 review

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10. Beats PowerBeats

Revamped fitness-focussed Powerbeats

Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: 26.3g | Frequency response: 20Hz - 20kHz | Drivers: N/A | Driver type: N/A | Sensitivity: N/A | Impedance: N/A | Battery life: 15 hours | Wireless range: 10m (33ft) | NFC: No

+ Great battery life
+ Good wireless range
- Fit could be better
- High price

The new Powerbeats are a thoughtful evolution of Beats' wireless workout earbuds. They're missing a few niceties like active noise-reduction and may potentially feel less comfortable than some competitors, but by and large they're a decent cheap alternative to Apple’s higher-end in-ear headphones.

After spending some time with them, it's clear that the new Beats Powerbeats is a significant upgrade on the company's wireless workout earbuds, offering a sound quality lifted directly from the Beats Powerbeats Pro, an IPX4 rating and Apple’s H1 Wireless Chip that can summon Siri with the sound of your voice.

What we don't like about them is that the fit can be tough to get right and even slightly uncomfortable when you wear them for an extended period.

Read the full review: Beats Powerbeats review

Wireless vs true wireless

Wireless vs true wireless: what's the difference?

Which headphones style is best for you?

Check out TechRadar's exhaustive guides to the best headphones you can buy today:

- Best headphones

- Best on-ear headphones

- Best over-ear headphones.

- Best earbuds

- Best wireless headphones

- Best true wireless earbuds

- Best wireless earbuds

- Best noise-cancelling headphones

- Best swimming headphones

- Best running headphones

- Best Sony headphones

- Best Bose headphones

- Best Audio-Technica headphones

Wireless earbuds have existed for a while now, basically since Bluetooth was invented. Though battery-powered and not physically connected to your phone, they have a cord connecting both buds – and sometimes a band around the neck too.

True wireless earbuds have no cord whatsoever. While wireless allows us to wear headphones a few feet away from our music players, True Wireless cuts the cord between the earbuds, giving us true freedom. If you're looking to go full wireless, we also have a round-up of the best true wireless headphones, but you'll find our top picks here, too.

Wireless headphones are traditional over-ear or on-ear headphones without the wire – the two earcups are connected by a headband. Check out the best wireless headphones for more.

Best wireless earbuds, at a glance:

True wireless earbuds

  1. Sony WF-1000XM3 True Wireless Earbuds
  2. Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2
  3. Cambridge Audio Melomania 1
  4. Lypertek Tevi
  5. Klipsch T5 True Wireless
  6. Apple AirPods Pro
  7. Jabra Elite 65t
  8. Beats Powerbeats Pro
  9. SoundMAGIC TWS50
  10. B&O Beoplay E8 Wireless Earphones
  11. Audio-Technica CKS5TW
  12. Sony WF-SP800N

Wireless earbuds

  1. Optoma NuForce BE Sport4
  2. Bowers & Wilkins Pi3
  3. Sennheiser CX Sport
  4. OnePlus Bullets Wireless 2
  5. SoundMAGIC E11 BT
  6. Jaybird Tarah Pro
  7. Jaybird X4 
  8. Beats X
  9. Bose QuietControl 30
  10. Beats Powerbeats 

Wireless earbud deals